Tag: vienna

The Ultimate Extreme Sports Experience: Technomad @ Lake Placid’s Olympic Bobsled Run

The United States Olympic Bobsled Track at lake Placid, New York recently updated its sound system with Technomad loudspeakers.

SWM productions of Plattsburgh, New York specified and installed the 20 total loudspeakers used to cover the 1500 meter track located in one of the most harsh winter environments in America.

“The wind chill can reach 40-degrees below zero, not to mention the ice and snow,” said SWM President Tony LeClair. “We needed loudspeakers that provided sound worthy of an Olympic facility but that could also stand up to a uniquely harsh environment.”

LeClair installed two Technomad Noho C loudspeakers on the announcing booth located about halfway down the course. Loaded with a 1″/12″ coax driver, the mil-spec Noho C will be used for both music playing and voice reproduction. According to LeClair, the Noho has already exceeded expectations.

“We were testing the boxes by cranking some AC/DC for fun,” he explained. “There was a guy working in a Snow Cat at the bottom of the course who mistook the bass response for engine trouble. He turned off the machine before realizing he was hearing music coming from 1000-meters up the mountain. We were all amazed.”

Along with the Nohos, LeClair used 18 of the Technomad 70-voltVienna 16 Ts distributed along the lip of the track so as to minimize delay.

“We needed a distributed system that covered both the spectator area and the track area, “said LeClair. “They have people working on the track during races that need to be warned before a sled doing 100+ miles per hour comes flying at them.”

The loudspeakers are being driven by four QSC CV amplifiers at 400-Watts per side. They are running stereo on three different lines to every other speaker so that all of the loudspeakers can’t be lost in the event of a technical problem. A Berringer Dual Compressor31-band equalizer is also being used.

LeClair, using Technomads for the first time, had his technicians thoroughly examine the loudspeakers before installing them on the face of a frigid mountain.

“My reputation is attached to every installation we do,” said LeClair. “I have to let my guys examine the products I’m using for a given application – and boy was they impressed. We really can’t believe how well these loudspeakers are made. We will not hesitate to use them for future installations, both indoor and out.

SWM Productions, Inc. is a full service production company offering a wide variety of concert and event services ranging from consulting and planning to site coordination, stage management, and full-scale production for 10 years. In additions, SWM books and produces live entertainment throughout the greater upstate New York region.

The Technomad Noho C contains a coaxial 12″ low frequency driver and 1″ compression driver providing unparalleled musicality and voice intelligibility. The Vienna contains a horn-loaded 1″ high frequency driver and 6.5″ low frequency driver. Like all of the Technomad loudspeakers, the Noho and Vienna are fully weatherproof due to a three-layer stainless steel WeatherTech grill, military-specification rotationally molded cabinet and self-draining construction.

Boston-based Technomad users include all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, Universal Studios, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Lines, The White House, Cunard Cruise Lines, Princess Cruise Lines, Rodger Williams University, ESPN Zone, Tony Gwynn Stadium, Cinergy Field and many others.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines install Technomad WeatherTech™ Loudspeakers

Miami, Florida – Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines install Technomad WeatherTech(tm) Loudspeakers.

Pro audio equipment is highly sensitive gear that is very susceptible to the ravages of hostile weather conditions. High fidelity loudspeaker systems have never been items that one would leave out in the rain, fog or humidity, let alone rain, fog or humidity that is very high in salt content.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, one of the leading cruise lines in the world, was recently operating with a revolving door policy when it came to their on-deck, mobile high fidelity loudspeakers. “R.C.C.L was getting about a year of use from our loudspeakers”, notes Mr. Craig Chamberlain, Senior Buyer for Casino and Cruise Programs. “The salt water, rain, sprays and wash downs took their toll on the wood, electronics and especially the speaker cones to the point the loudspeakers would need to be replaced frequently.” The expense of replacing many pairs of professional high powered loudspeakers per year was prohibitive.

The Caribbean weather can go from sunny with temperatures of 110 degrees to driving rain and temperatures of 60degrees, and then back again within fifteen minutes. The lifespan of professional audio equipment and loudspeaker systems in this type of environment is greatly reduced due to the extreme sun, heat, water, wind and salt conditions. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines had used several different brands of cloth covered, pressboard and plywood cabinet loudspeaker systems for their on-deck audio applications. Continues Mr. Chamberlain, “Even though R.C.C.L takes great pride in taking care of all of our equipment, the wood loudspeakers were not holding up to the environment.”

Mr. Chamberlain was told about Technomad WeatherTech(tm) loudspeakers by Brian Leeser of Miami Audio Video Company, of Miami, Florida. Imagine a high-powered, high fidelity loudspeaker system that could be operated outdoors, in the rain, fog, salt spray, humidity, blazing sun and intense heat. This intrigued Mr. Chamberlain.

Mr. Leeser informed Mr. Chamberlain that Technomad loudspeakers are impervious to salt water, sand, condensation, UV light, corrosion, insects, and other damage. A Technomad loudspeaker’s four layer, acoustically transparent grill system breaks up wind driven rain, sprayed water and liquids. Any water that does get onto the chemically treated drivers (speaker cones) is merely shed away. For very extreme weather conditions, Technomad WeatherTech(tm) loudspeakers also feature a watertight lid. With the lid attached, Technomad loudspeakers meet Military-Specification 810E, have an ATA III rating, are splinter-proof and resistant to impact, chemical cleaners and even fire. Like-size Technomad cabinets lock together when stacked, and interlocking ribs allow for secure transport and storage in rough seas.

Mr. Leeser learned out about Technomad at the 1995 INFOCOMM Expo in Dallas, Texas. Miami Audio Video Company (MAVCO) is recognized as one of the leading audio, video and multimedia design and installation firms in the world for the cruise ship industry. MAVCO, never a company to rest on its laurels and only sell the standard fare of “black cabinets” recognized the potential of the Technomad WeatherTech(tm) loudspeaker line. Always looking to make inroads into new markets with new products, Mr. Leeser suggested R.C.C.L. evaluate a pair of the Technomad WeatherTech(tm) full range Berlin model loudspeakers on a two week evaluation cruise. Mr. Leeser states, “When I received a check for the first pair of Technomad loudspeakers after only one week into the evaluation, I knew I was onto something special.”

Since acquiring the first pair of Technomad WeatherTech Berlin model loudspeakers for The Sovereign of the Seas, Technomads have been acquired for several other R.C.C.L. ships, including Song of America, Majesty of the Seas and Nordic Empress. Mr. Chamberlain notes, “Since changing to the Technomad WeatherTech(tm) Berlin model loudspeakers in September 1995, we have been very pleased with their durability.” The Technomads are primarily used poolside for the entire day by a Calypso band. In the evening the Technomads are used for parties and other functions, such as ‘Theme Night’ festivities. It is not unusual for the Technomads to be in use eight or more hours per day.

Ease of use and electronic reliability were other reasons to replace Royal Caribbean’s older loudspeakers with the Technomads. States Mr. Chamberlain, “Many members of the on-board entertainment staff, who will eventually handle the Technomad loudspeakers, are not audio professionals. In many cases an audio technician will set-up the entire PA system and walk away from it, leaving the audio system to be operated by the band.”

Technomad’s electronics are designed to withstand a significant amount of use. High quality, custom made crossover networks ensure superior audio performance and ultimate reliability. Technomad’s crossovers feature premium 400-volt metalized polypropylene Solen capacitors and unusually large inductors for low insertion-loss and DC-tolerant performance, and all internal wiring is 12-gauge multi-braided copper cable.

Aside from the rapidly changing weather conditions at sea, “Royal Caribbean needs to watch what we buy for many reasons. The extended warranty on the Technomad loudspeakers is another reason why we use the product,” notes Mr. Chamberlain referring to Technomad’s 10/5/2 year comprehensive warranty against manufacturers defects. The 10/5/2 warranty covers the Technomad loudspeaker cabinet for ten years, the external hardware for five years and all of the electronics for two years.

Mr. Chamberlain concludes, “We cannot be monitoring the audio equipment 100% of the time, so it’s good to know that we can walk away from the Technomads in 99% of our ‘at-sea’ situations and they will come through just fine.”